Me Myself and I

When did DJing become so corporate?  Back in the days when I started (1988!) there were no “DJ companies” Sure, there were entertainment agencies who would fill gigs, normally for pubs/restaurants/hotels, but the general birthday party and wedding market was still very personal – you find a DJ and you hire him. Discos back then were individuals, even though we did give ourselves fancy names - Silverball Disco (as it was originally) was named after pinball, my friend named his roadshow after the street he lived in (and lots of people were a “roadshow”). Oh, the 80s…..

There have been many changes in the technology of discos in the thirty years that I have been a DJ – Vinyl gave way to CDs, and now even I am moving to a laptop (with multiple backups). The traditional twin decks have gone, as have the big bulbs an static lighting effects of old, replaced by LED technology and effects that mimic those seen in nightclubs and at concerts! Radio mics, controllers, many things are now available and have changed the physical side of DJing

Back where it all began!

What hasn’t changed, what shouldn’t have changed, is the personal service.  The DJ who you meet, book and who comes to your wedding or your special event.  What I am now seeing more and more is companies, teams of DJs – what used to be a single operator job being replaced by what feel like huge conglomerates!  Ok, maybe not quite, but when I see a website listing “all our DJs” I just wonder where the personal service is, where the specialisms are….  Who turns up to your show?  Will s/he have a different level of experience, a totally different style?

From a personal point of view, it feels like these companies/agencies/teams can squeeze out other DJs which may lessen the choice for anyone looking for a DJ.  Venues use these companies and will steer clients to them, or even insist on you using them which again reduces your choice for your special day.

Even if you hear me say “we”, Silverball Leisure has always been a single operator disco, (although we can call on experienced specialists as and when required), and that is how it will always be.

Personal – Passionate – Professional